April 26, 2010 Has South Park Crossed the Line?
(picture credit: http://cache.boston.com/resize/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2010/04/22/1271990368_4869/539w.jpg)
I’m sure all of you, as English speaking citizens of the world, have one point or at another have watched a South Park episode. If you haven’t… I’m speechless. Anyway, there has been some controversy on the latest episode, involving religion. I think when religion is mixed with satire and comedy, it just turns ugly. South Park was showing how Mohammed was a figure that was impossible to make fun of, and ironically, making fun of him. The latest episode was heavily censored by Comedy Central, and was taken down on www.southparkstudios.com, the show’s official internet streaming site. The creators of South Park have even been threatened by a radical Islamic site.
So… Has South Park Crossed the Line this time? Have they gone too far? After all, a religious figure and a celebrity are on different levels.
My opinion is… no. But I do think that the creators of South Park could’ve picked a more appropriate subject. I actually thought about this for a long time, and I finally found my answer when I put the situation in to my own religion. I am a Christian, and I always have been. If South Park made fun of Jesus, or God, would I be mad? Well… no. Because it’s comedy. It’s satire! And that’s what satires and comedies do. To be honest, when I was watching the latest episode with Mohammed, I laughed. A lot. That’s not being disrespectful to Mohammed, because we all know the show was just meant to be funny, and no other serious meaning buried deep inside of it.
I still do not support the choice South Park has made to made fun of a religious leader, and stand behind Comedy Central, when they heavily censored the episode.
So.. what’s your opinion? Too far?
BTW, new layout!
Tags: 201, censored, Mohammed, South Park
- 17 comments
- Posted under Ramblings
Art and Other Things 
Permalink #
Jennifer Strong
said
SouthPark always goes too far, but that is part of the reason why I like the show. Southpark will make fun of anything. They make fun of Jeus so why not make fun of Mohammed. Too bad if the Muslims don’t like it they need to get over it. It’s called COMEDY
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suyeonb13
said
My thoughts exactly! And I thought the latest episode was HILARIOUS! But at the same time, religion can be a tricky subject to incorporate with comedy…
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Alamanach
said
I am angry that Comedy Central decided to censor South Park. People have died to protect free speech, and here Comedy Central has allowed a few radicals to dictate its programming. I realize that muslims do not want any graphical depictions of Mohammad. What we as a country have to decide (I am writing as an American here) is which is more important to us– our freedom of speech or the supposed sanctity of Islam’s prophet. Personally, freedom of speech is more important to me– more important by far. If anyone were to try to physically attack Comedy Central for airing this episode, I am one of 300 million that would rush to the network’s defense.
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suyeonb13
said
So true… But if Comedy Central had not censored the content, muslims could’ve gotten violent, it would just create a big mess… And nobody wants to deal with all that. So I still stand behind Comedy Central’s decision. And I think the censoring actually added to the comedy!
Permalink #
Kiwidutch
said
Be prepared to be speechless.. I’ve never heard of or seen SouthPark, but I gather from the picture that it’s a cartoon of some sort?
I don’t get time to watch too much “mainstream popular” TV, I’ve seen one episode of “friends” on an aeroplane once (didn’t really “get” why so many people raved about it to be honest) and have heard about but never seen any of a heap of programmes, such as Desperate housewives, House etc
I know, apparently these are on TV here but I’m I’m just not in the loop….
Maybe some one can full me in on the SouthPark thing….?
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pwesty
said
It’s kind of like The Simpsons or Family Guy… It’s just essentially a show with episodes that have little overall plot structure, but jokes and cracks at people, places, history, books, movies, etc. Shows like that can often go too far, though. You might want to search it on Youtube if you want to actually SEE what I’m talking about.
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suyeonb13
said
I am speechless.
When you’re bored, it’s a good show to kill time with! It’s a show with some elementary kids satirizing.. EVERYTHING! It’s hilarious.
Permalink #
pwesty
said
I’ve only seen an episode or two; I don’t really watch mature shows besides an occasional Family Guy. However, the question really applies to he who answers it. I think they may have gone a LITTLE too far, but that’s why some people watch the show. However, making fun of religion can often bring out the ugly side of people…
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suyeonb13
said
I personally like South Park better than Family Guy Haha. I like how they go far making fun of celebrities, and making fun of Mohammed was probably not a very smart choice, but the episode was still hilarious.
Permalink #
jane s.
said
South Park.. blehh it always deals with controversial topics. Remember last time when we watched this show in biology? How they made fun of the dead fetuses and abortion was such a horrible topic to make a comic out of with such innocent looking characters…
Permalink #
scarletsculturegarden
said
South Park always go too far, but that’s part of the fun right? I think some people just can’t have a laugh at themselves and while sometimes there’s a difference between having a laugh at someone’s expense and taking it far too far, you know that anything on South Park is gonna fall on the wrong side of right (if that makes any sense). This has probably been blown all out of proportion!
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dumpringsforrunch
said
hello. I am not a south park watcher. However, i still think it’s okay to show some religious comedy on the show. They make fun of everything else… so why not religion? How far they go with the joke is what matters. But if many Muslims feel that the jokes are too serious and feel offended by them, then South Park should consider whether or not to use religious themes for their shows.
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contemplativemoorings
said
There is something be said for preserving sacredness…people don’t take anything seriously these days…but too, if you’re life depends on believing in an unassailable figure, then you probably don’t have a good grip on your own life…
Permalink #
If Nobody Speaks
said
Making fun of religion should absolutely be allowed. It is, after all, JUST an opinion and should not be treated with any more respect than you would show to any other ideas expressed by someone.
A faith (or indeed any other viewpoint) that is not strong enough to survive questioning and satire is probably not worth following.
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jamesk13
said
i like south park…but they shouldn’t mock religious figures..that’s my thought
its okay to mock like stupid customs or practices, but not religious figures like Jesus or Virgin Mary..
I’m okay with other stuffs from South Park, hilarious.
Permalink #
Shmarah
said
You’re Christian? Ah, that’s good… Nice to meet another kin… c-=
And well, I don’t watch any of these shows. They disgust me the way they make dirty jokes. The creators certainly aren’t Mohammed-haters who want to kill all Islamic people and start a war… They just want to make people laugh. However, it’s insulting to many people, especially those who feel strongly about their religions. Some devote their entire lives to religion, and when it’s made fun of, it’s like saying, “YOU HAVE A WASTE OF A LIFE!”
It hurts people’s pride, and when hurt enough, some may actually start to believe it. I know…
Anyways, that was well-written and interesting. Keep blogging! [ =
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Tina
said
It’s called satire and can be quite funny. I don’t like censorship in any form. If Comedy Central and South Park make exceptions, then they will have to make those exceptions across the board. Meaning, if Muslins and Mohamed are sacred and are the exception, then all religions should be too. That means no Christian jokes. No scientology. No Hindu, etc. etc. Then they cook take exceptions to other figures, other people, celebrities, etc. I hate the hipocrisy of comedy central.